Hamilton County hurricane guide¶
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Division of Emergency Management plans for hurricanes and opens shelters for the county. Hamilton is inland, so the main dangers are wind, falling trees, and flooding, including near the Suwannee River. The Emergency Management website links to current river levels. Shelters open only when local officials announce them, so do not go to a shelter until it has been announced.
Checked on September 30, 2026
Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Division of Emergency Management. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.
Emergency and information numbers¶
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | 911 | Police, fire, and ambulance. Call only when someone's life or property is in danger. |
| Emergency management office | 386-792-6647 | Office line. Not for emergencies. |
| Sheriff's Office main line | 386-792-2004 | For police matters that are not emergencies. |
| County information line | 386-792-6639 | Office line. Not for emergencies. |
| Animal services | 386-855-1323 | Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Animal Control. |
| Road and traffic conditions (FL511) | 511 | Evacuation routes and road closures. |
Official alerts and information¶
- Hamilton County Emergency Management: The county's official hurricane information page, with emergency notices, road closures, and shelter information. Website.
Evacuation centers¶
Open only when announced
Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.
Hamilton County decides when and where shelters open for each storm. Do not go to a shelter until local officials announce that it is open. When conditions allow, the first shelter to open is the EOC Shelter, behind the old high school gym in Jasper. The second choice is one of the Hamilton County schools. Shelters are a last resort and you may need to stay several days, so bring clothes, ID, medicines, and snacks. The county has a pet-friendly shelter for dogs and cats only, with limited space. Pet owners stay at the EOC Shelter and must care for their own pets.
Official list of open evacuation centers
These are locations the county has used or designated as evacuation centers. They are listed for planning only.
| Name | Address | Serves |
|---|---|---|
| EOC Shelter | 261 Chan Bridge Drive, Jasper, FL 32052 | General |
Help to evacuate¶
- Special needs registration: Register before a storm if you will need help to evacuate or a special needs shelter. Register with the state registry, or call Emergency Management with questions. Phone: 386-792-6647. Website.
- Pet-friendly shelter: For dogs and cats only, and a last resort. Space is limited. Bring food, water, medicines, and cleanup supplies. Pets without proof of current shots will be vaccinated at the owner's cost. Website.
- Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Animal Control: 940 Oak Street, Jennings. Phone: 386-855-1323. Website.
Radio, TV and weather¶
Keep a battery or hand crank radio. When power and cell service fail, radio is often the only way to hear official updates.
Radio stations¶
| Station | Frequency | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WQHL-FM | 98.1 FM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1) |
| WQHL | 1250 AM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP1) |
| WNFB | 94.3 FM | English | Emergency Alert System primary station (LP2) |
Emergency Alert System roles come from the Florida state EAS plan, last revised in April 2021.
NOAA Weather Radio¶
A weather radio turns itself on for warnings, even in the middle of the night. Set it to this frequency.
| Station | Frequency | Transmitter |
|---|---|---|
| KEB97 | 162.400 MHz | Lake City |
| WWH31 | 162.500 MHz | Valdosta |
TV stations¶
| Station | Channel | Network | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| WCTV | 6 | CBS | English |
| WTXL-TV (WTXL ABC 27) | 27 | ABC | English |
| WTWC-TV (NBC 40) | 40 | NBC | English |
| WFSU-TV (WFSU) | 11 | PBS | English |
Official forecasts¶
- National Weather Service Jacksonville: Local forecasts, watches, and warnings. Phone: 904-741-4370. Website.
- National Hurricane Center: Official hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings. Website.
Power, water and debris¶
- Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC): Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 1-800-752-0025. Website.
- Duke Energy Florida: Report an outage online or by phone. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 1-800-228-8485. Website.
After the storm: help for displaced residents¶
If your home is damaged or you cannot go back, these organizations help with shelter, food, money, and paperwork. Many programs open only after a disaster declaration, so check their pages for current status.
Where to start¶
- United Way 211 of Northeast Florida: United Way of Northeast Florida runs this 24/7 211 line for Northeast Florida, St. Johns County and the Suwannee Valley. 24 hours a day. Phone: 904-632-0600. Website.
Housing and shelter¶
- FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers: After a federal declaration, these centers help you apply for aid in person. Use the locator to find the nearest one. Phone: 1-800-621-3362. Website.
Food¶
- Second Harvest of the Big Bend: Regional food bank for the Big Bend; its site has a Find Food page. Phone: 850-562-3033. Website.
- Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP): State food benefits after a declared disaster. Dates and locations are posted when it opens. Website.
Money, work and insurance¶
- DisasterAssistance.gov: Apply for FEMA aid after a federal declaration. Phone: 1-800-621-3362. Website.
- Florida Insurance Consumer Helpline: Free help with insurance claims and disputes. Phone: 1-877-693-5236. Website.
- SBA disaster loans: Low interest loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses after a declared disaster. Phone: 800-659-2955. Website.
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance: For people who lose work because of a declared disaster. Website.
Legal help¶
- Three Rivers Legal Services: Free civil legal aid for low-income residents of 17 North and North Central Florida counties. Toll free intake line, during business hours. Phone: 866-256-8091. Website.
- Florida Disaster Relief Hotline: Free legal help for disaster survivors, switched on after a storm. Phone: 1-866-550-2929. Website.
Emotional support¶
- Lutheran Services Florida Health Systems (LSF Health Systems): State-contracted managing entity that funds and coordinates public mental health and substance use care in its region; it does not treat people directly. 24 hours a day. Phone: 877-229-9098. Website.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text, any time. Phone: 988.
Relief organizations¶
- American Red Cross North Central Florida Chapter (North and Central Florida Region): Local Red Cross chapter that runs shelters and gives emergency help after disasters and home fires. For disaster help at any hour, call 1-800-733-2767. Phone: 352-376-4669. Website.
Scams, contractors and price gouging¶
- Price gouging hotline (Florida Attorney General): Report price gouging during a declared state of emergency. Phone: 1-866-966-7226. Website.
- Contractor license check (DBPR): Check any contractor's license before you pay for repairs. Phone: 850-487-1395. Website.
Cities and towns¶
Each city has its own services and some have their own alerts. The county's evacuation zones, evacuation centers, and emergency alerts cover everyone, in every city and in unincorporated areas.
Related guides¶
- Should I evacuate?
- What to expect at a hurricane shelter
- Hurricane supply list
- After a hurricane: the first 24 hours
- Insurance claims and disaster aid
Sources¶
Checked on September 30, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.
- https://hamiltonem.com/
- https://hamiltonsheriff.com/
- https://hamiltoncountyfl.com/contact-us/
- https://hamiltonsheriff.com/animal-control/
- https://www.fl511.com/
- https://hamiltonem.com/shelter-locations/
- https://hamiltonem.com/sheltering-with-pets/
- https://www.weather.gov/source/nwr/JS/CCL.js
- https://api.weather.gov/zones/county/FLC047
- https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WQHL
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WNFB
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WCTV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WTXL-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WTWC-TV
- https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/facility/search/WFSU-TV
- https://www.svec-coop.com/outages-safety/outage-center/report-track-outages/
- https://www.duke-energy.com/Customer-Landing-Pages/Florida-Storm-Ready
- https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator
- https://fightinghunger.org/
- https://www.myflfamilies.com/dsnap
- https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
- https://myfloridacfo.com/division/ica/contactus
- https://www.sba.gov/disaster/
- https://floridajobs.org/workforce-resources/reemployment-assistance/general-information/special-programs
- https://www.trls.org/locations/
- https://www.floridabar.org/public/consumer/hurricaneinfo/
- https://lsfhealthsystems.org/
- https://www.myfloridalegal.com/consumer-protection/price-gouging
- https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp
- https://unitedwaynefl.org/get-help/
- https://www.redcross.org/local/florida/north-central-florida/about-us/locations/north-central-florida.html